Local celebrations to be held for Rosh Hashanah

Powerful blasts will echo throughout Mercer Island as community Rabbi Nissan Kornfeld blows the shofar, a ram’s horn, across town to celebrate the upcoming Jewish New Year, called Rosh Hashanah.

Blowing through the shofar’s narrow end like a trumpet, Kornfeld will herald the beginning of the new year. Synagogues blast the shofar, the central symbol of the holiday, every day for a month leading up to the holiday, culminating with a sequence of 100 blasts during the Rosh Hashanah services — this year on Sept. 9-11.

Literally meaning “head of the year,” the holiday commemorates the creation of the world and marks the beginning of the Days of Awe, a 10-day period of introspection and repentance that culminates in the Yom Kippur holiday.

In order to sound the shofar for Jews who cannot make it to synagogue, Kornfeld will blow the shofar on Monday, Sept. 10, at Luther Burbank Park at 5 p.m., and at the Mercer Island senior living communities on Tuesday, Sept. 11. All are invited to hear this powerful performance and fulfill one of Rosh Hashanah’s most important observances.

“The blast of the shofar is a powerful call to repentance, and the opening act to one of the happiest times of a new year,” Kornfeld stated. “Wherever Jews are on the Island, I invite them to witness this meaningful alert to the season!”

The shofar blowing is one of many Chabad Holiday programs, which give Jews the opportunity to learn the significance of Jewish holiday rituals and perform them with their families.

“Wherever our family is, we make sure to hear the sound of the shofar and get excited for the year to come,” said Judy Cohen. “The shofar reminds us that while we should take the new year to improve ourselves and our community, we also have plenty of reason to celebrate what we have.”

If you or a loved one is unable to attend services, please contact the Chabad office at info@chabadmercerisland.org. For more information about Rosh Hashanah, visit www.ChabadMercerIsland.org/HighHolidays.